Yes, Highlands Proves There Really Is a Free Lunch

Thanks to Kathleen Brunner, Highlands Branch Childrens's Librarian, all employees there won a drawing for a lunch, sponsored by the 96.1 Lite Lunch Brigade a few weeks ago.  They also have a group shot of the happy DU staff on their site.  Nice advertising for JPL and who doesn't like a good, free lunch?  Click here for more information:  http://www.wejz.com/PhotoPages/Photo.aspx?PhotoID=874321.

Staff Profile

David Foster, Library Associate in Mandarin Branch’s children’s department, is well known for his ability to “break the ice” with strangers and make them feel right at home, all the while finding out what customers’ real needs are so he can best help them. David is respected by his present and past supervisors, peers, and customers for his exceptional skills. One thing he said that might best describe his take on customer service was what he learned on his first job out of high school, “It taught me the value of a proactive anticipation of what will best help a customer.” He makes each customer feel like their need is his top priority; and for him it is.


Q: What is our professional history with City/JPL?

A: I began working for JPL in late fall of 2004, just as the last of the new branches were being completed under The Better Jacksonville Plan. Although my mother and I visited UPK on its grand opening day months before, I was not actually part of the start-up team. Michael Sullivan, Kathleen Krizek, Mary Calcagni, and Kim Hamilton saw my potential as an assistant in the Y department, and I worked between the circulation and Y departments. Although I knew that I would move to South Mandarin, ironically, I also was not part of the start-up crew there. I arrived over a week after its grand opening and again was fortunate in that Ed Murray, Lynne Baldwin, Anne Clement, Marsha Collins, and Linda Ehnert saw my potential as an LA in the Y department. I worked for Ms. Clement for 4 1/2 years before my transfer to Mandarin Branch, where I am Margo Crafton's assistant.

Q: Are your people skills and good customer service derived more from a personal affinity for people, professionally acquired, or both?

A: My family has a history of serving our community; my mother and sister-in-law are teachers, my sister is a nurse, one of my brothers works in law enforcement, one of my nieces works in a seniors home, and one of my nephews served eight years in the military.

My rapport with customers stems from two people, in particular -- my father, who had the ability to speak with ease with virtually anyone about virtually any topic, and a family friend, for whom I worked after graduating from high school. That job involved sales, and my friend taught me how he maintained a client base, in no small part due to his jovial, outgoing nature. I apply that lesson on a daily basis, welcoming families as they step into our department, and proactively providing assistance.

My love of reading comes from my mother, who cannot sit at the breakfast table without reading the cereal box ingredients! At home, we were surrounded by encyclopedias, Reader's Digest, National Geographic, and any number of bookcases that were filled to the brim.

My approach to customer service is that--at that particular moment, during that particular transaction--to the customer, I am the face of JPL.

Q: Why is it important to connect with parents as well as children?

A: Building a strong rapport with the entire family allows me to better determine the family's needs, whether specific, such as resources for a school project, or whether broad in scope, such as encouraging a life-long love of the library, and, by extension, building a life-long love of reading.

I am fortunate that--at both SOM and KR--I have hosted the Mother Goose and Toddler Time programs, allowing me to focus on our future readers from the very beginning!

I also host a kids graphic novel book club, which Shivon Rockward started for KR, in which I am able to work with school-age students who are at a stage where many students face distractions, such as video games and television. I stress critical thinking, specifically comparison and contrast and the concept of irony, as well as the pure joy of leisure reading. I provide an atmosphere that is conducive to each student's expressing his or her point-of-view.

Q: How is customer service changing in the children’s department?

A: More and more, we are a hub for families with parents who—in addition to helping their kids get books—are here to search for a job. Something as simple as letting a parent know that, in addition to finding books that pertain to their child's interests, we can provide coloring pages, puzzles, and pop-up books to keep their attention so a parent can focus on that important task. I am also able to tell parents about our website links, specifically Careers and Jobs, under the Recommended Websites on our home page. My taking a moment to research the next WorkSource visit could change a family's life!

The summer months, which are our peak season because our school-age kids are on break, have also changed in the last few years of our nation's economic downturn. I've heard again and again that our programming has offered families a free, healthy alternative to costly entertainment.

Q: Tell us something about yourself that most of us would not know.

A: My family has a new generation! My brother and I were raised as a “second” family, so we've been uncles since we were in elementary school. In the last few years, my oldest nephew and his wife have started their own family. Children have always been part of my life!

Mural of Jean Ribault 's Landing in Florida, 1562

At 5 p.m, May 1, 2012, on the 4th floor of the Main library, JPL will host the unveiling of Lee Adams' painting of French Captain Jean Ribault's landing at the mouth of the River of May (as he named it; known now as the St. Johns River), May 1, 1562.  He raised a monument claiming the land for the King of France and proclaiming the land This 450th anniversary will also be celebrated with other events sponsored by other local organizations (click here for more information: http://www.coj.net/commemorate450.aspx) because of its historical importance.  Lee Adams' mural, largely restored after years of neglect, will be a bold reminder of Florida's rich history and entice customers to search out JPL's Florida Collection to see our state's impact on the development of this this nation.

History of the Mural and the Pillar Depicted in It:
 The mural depicts a time priod of 1562-1565.  Jean Ribault set the original pillar in place on May 2, 1562, proclaiming the land to be New France.  The famous drawing, credited to Jacques le Moynes, has made history books around the wrold, depicts Rene de Laudonniere and Chief Satouriba's son, Athore, at the pillar.

1924 marked the 300th anniversary of the beginning of Huguenot immigration to America and the time was used to celebrate the landing of Jean Ribault in 1562.  A Mrs. Cooley, who was a member of the Jacksonville Chapter of the DAR, wanted to honor the Huguenots and the Chapter designed a replica of the column Ribault left at Mayport, raised money to produce it, and it was installed at Mayport on May 1, 1924, on land known as Wonderwood-By-The-Sea, owned by Mrs. Elizabeth Starke.  She wrote that Easter sunrise services were held there for more than a decade.

In 1940, Mrs. Starke's land was claimed for the Naval Station Mayport and the monument was moved probably to another loction on the base.  Later theit was moved to a site on Mayport Road.

In 1959 the monument was moved again to land designated as Ft. Caroline Natinal Memorial.  After that, many streets and subdividsions in the area took on names connected with the French Huguenot colony of La Caroline.  The monmument will be rededicated on May 1, 2012, by the National Park Service and the DAR. 

  
Last paragraph:
Input for this article was drawn from a memo from Michelle Barth, Deputy Chief of Staff, Mayor Alvin Brown's office to the library Board of Trustees and from input provided by Mrs. Lyn Corley of Jacksonville.  Mrs. Croley is a history buff and found this painting in a local school cafeteria, then worked with two mayors and the Library Board of Trustees to get it finally placed at the Main Library.